Temples - Ambiance of Peace

I have always wondered what is it about the temples that makes them such a calm, serene, peaceful place to visit. Is it the presence of God? Not really, because I believe God is present everywhere - so every place then has to be like a temple isn't it? It certainly is not the case.

Is it the architecture that makes them seem pleasant to the mind? Partly, I would say. The architecture is definitely different, and it exudes a not-in-a-hurry, peace-at-world look. It seems like being built with the sole feeling of gratitude for the almighty. But having said that, I have been in a temple which can almost pass for a house of any common person (architecture wise). Yet, it seems to have every quality of a temple mentioned above - calm, serene and peaceful. So, architecture is not that big a factor I would say.

After thinking for quite sometime (intermittently for about a year back when I was in India), I finally understood that it is due to the people that the temple becomes the place it is. The people who come in, leave all the bad thoughts outside. They come with the sole thought of praying for sometime, and getting some much required peace after a busy day. There is all this positive energy coming from all these persons which creates the ambiance of peace in the temple.

There are other contributing factors too - the chanting of mantras, the holy bell at the entrance of every temple, the clean and cool floor made of black stone. Stepping on the floor bare foot is a feeling not to be forgotten during a lifetime. The aarti deepa, bhasma from the yagna, teertha and what not. Wow!!! I never thought I would miss the good old temple of India.

But after coming here, one gets starved for the moment of peace amidst all this noise and nonsense that the daily life is.